Field Weekend June 2017: Hampshire & Berkshire borders

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Please find below updated details of our Woodland Heritage Field Weekend 2017.

Thursday June 15 morning:   

Gaze Burvill, East Tisted, Hampshire. By kind permission of Simon Burvill

Our day will start with a tour of the workshops and showroom of Britain’s leading manufacturer of award winning garden furniture and kitchens. With over 24 years’ experience Gaze Burvill’s workshop thrives on the talented work of craftsmen, many of whom have trained with the firm to create its unique designs. Combined with new technology, every piece is hand built and hand finished to the highest standard. Gaze Burvill exhibit regularly at Chelsea and throughout the world.   We will also be shown two new films, both funded by WH, one on managing small woodlands and the other on Acute Oak Decline. The afternoon will commence with our AGM before we drive to the nearby gardens of Rotherfield Park Estate.

Thursday June 15 afternoon:

Rotherfield Park Gardens, East Tisted, Hampshire. By kind permission of Sir James and Lady Scott

These extensive gardens around the house cover about twelve acres and are Grade II listed by English Heritage. They have been tended by six generations of Scotts (and their wives!) since 1808 and include an acre of walled garden within which the vegetables are planted according to the phases of the moon. There are glass houses, a dedicated peach and apricot house, and a vinery. Other features include a ha-ha, the remains of an ice house, a Lime avenue, clipped Yews, orchards and a new Willow cathedral. In 1928 Norah Lindsay produced a planting plan for one side of the house. Some of this remains, as do her notes in the Rotherfield archives.

Friday June 16:

Herriard Park Estate, Herriard, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. By kind permission of the Jervoise family

Led by William Hamer, Agent for the Estate, and assisted by Graham Taylor, WH Trustee, we will visit the historic Herriard Estate which has been in the same family for many generations – its ownership can be traced back to a lieutenant of William the Conqueror called Hugh De Port. It is set in wonderful parkland with much to see, including some of the tallest and cleanest Douglas Firs you might ever come across. The Estate is a strong advocate of a vibrant rural economy to support and maintain the beautiful countryside created by farmers and landowners. They are members of many national organisations that promote this, such as the NFU, the CLA and the RFS and they accept their responsibility to assist local groups, organisations and charity events.

Saturday June 17: 

Kintbury Holt Woodlands, Kintbury, West Berkshire. By kind permission of the Stevens Family

Led again by William Hamer, Agent for the Estate, and Graham Taylor, we will visit this predominantly Oak woodland with some fine mature trees and some extraordinary plantings at wide spacing which actually work. Oaks raised from Kintbury’s own seed provenance and Farm Woodland planting. It is at Kintbury that Peter Goodwin planned to talk about Oaks of different ages and grades; selecting the ‘winners’; and to discuss the current demand and prices achieved for a parcel of winter felled Oak and what to do with the cankered Cherry. We will also see a demonstration of the traditional craft of Oak cleaving by a local man.

 

Click here to view a PDF file outlining the schedule for the weekend.

Members and their guests will be very welcome. To book, please contact Woodland Heritage: enquiries@woodlandheritage.org.uk or 01428 652159